Positive Mindset in Uncertain Times

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by Jess Phillips

On March 16, 2020, my mother flew home to New York after visiting me in Atlanta for a week. Little did I know that the previous Friday would be the last time I went to work my restaurant job for 76 days.

In the beginning of our shelter-in-place, I viewed it as a time to decompress. An exhale, if you will. Working full time at a restaurant while trying to get my real estate business off the ground was tiring. However, as the shelter-in-place grew from days to weeks to months, my excitement for long walks, podcasts, movies, and books began to fade. The uncertainty of the world and my prospective opportunities began to take a toll.

COVID-19 shut down the nation as I was beginning to amp up my business. I had qualified leads and close friends looking at houses weekend after weekend. 2020 looked promising. But as the nation’s future became more and more questionable, so did my clients’. Some lost their jobs; some were furloughed, and some moved home with their parents. They became concerned, and so did I.

My once busy schedule filled with agent caravans; open houses and property showings were traded in for brokerage Zoom meetings, FaceTime happy hours, and countless webinar trainings. At first, the trainings felt educational and worthwhile, but after time, I dreaded the hours I knew I would have to spend in front of my computer. I missed the human interaction. Video just did not compare to face to face.

Thankfully, real estate was deemed essential, so business could continue to operate. If I had been in the game longer, I may have had better luck. But 18 months in, business was not flying through the door. I did have the occasional new client showing, and I was able to sell my friends a home in May. But as the days rolled on with low productivity, I began getting down on myself. Then, I watched this webinar to change my outlook: Increasing Your Income Through your Morning Routine.

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Lab Coat agents Tristan Ahumada and Nick Baldwin interviewed Hal Elrod about his morning routine. He says the key to success is SAVERS; silence (AKA meditation), affirmations, visualization (of your day), exercise, reading, and scribing (journaling).

Hal is very inspirational, so I figured I would give his suggestions a try.

  • Meditation was hard; well, honestly, I think it will always be a work in progress. My mind runs a mile a minute, as I assume most do.
  • Affirmations are my new favorite activity. When there’s so much chaos going on in the world, it is beautiful to think about all the things you are thankful for.
  • Visualization of my day brings me peace of mind. I’m a Virgo, so organizing is in my soul. I have been doing this since as long as I can remember.
  • Exercise was already part of my morning routine. Yoga brings me so much peace, and I always feel better after each class. I try to get on my mat as often as possible.
  • Reading was never a hobby of mine. However, shelter-in-place had given me time to read. Before, it was something I would do occasionally, but movies were more my thing. Gaining a slower pace allowed me to read and I kick myself for not doing more sooner.
  • Finally, scribing. I have done it from time to time. However, I now make a conscious effort to do it daily. There is something so therapeutic about getting your thoughts out of your head, especially the negative ones. It makes space for more affirmations and lists of gratitude.

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I think being in a rut is a natural part of life. No one is happy all day every day. Part of being human is experiencing highs and lows; it is what you do during those lows that defines your life. You want to do your best to come out on the other side better than you went in.

COVID-19 has taught me a lot about myself. It taught me that I moved at a fast pace, usually too fast to notice I was unhappy. Beginning my morning with positivity and appreciation has gotten me out of my slump and hopeful about the future. I understand why a large portion of agents quit within their first year. I, however, know my business will blossom in time. I’m optimistic and this morning routine will keep me that way. I hope you give it a try as well.

Jess Phillips is a Realtor with Nest Realty Atlanta. To learn more about Jess, visit her agent page.

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